The city of Mitchell has its sights set on replacing an aging lift station in a residential area along Lake Mitchell with hopes it will bring drainage improvements.
Funding for the Dailey Drive lift station replacement project began materializing Monday during the Mitchell City Council meeting, following the council’s approval to authorize the city's application for state grants and loans. Among the city’s future utility and water system projects, Public Works Director Kyle Croce pointed to replacing the Dailey Lift Station as a top priority. The replacement project is estimated to cost $2.8 million, according to Croce.
“That lift station is over capacity, and it is not designed to take in what it is now as far as the connections,” Croce said, noting the project is anticipated to begin in 2021. “We are in desperate need of an upgrade there.”
The lift station discussion comes after Terry Aker, civil engineer with SPN and Associates, provided the results of a sewer system evaluation that was conducted for the city, which also focused on the condition of the 14 lift stations in the city. During the Jan. 21 council meeting, Aker said the lift station was experiencing odor issues as it ages.
According to Aker, the typical life expectancy for the city’s lift stations hover around 30 years, and noted Mitchell has several that are 50 years or older. Of the 14 lift stations, Aker said at least 12 were in need of some sort of improvement. The cost of improving all 12 of the lift stations, including Dailey Drive’s lift station, was estimated at $7 million.
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Croce said the housing developments around the Dailey lift station will also benefit from the city improving the storm drainage for that area along the west side of Lake Mitchell, in conjunction with the lift project.
“There would also be some storm drainage improvements around that area as we go to install the lift station and distribution area around there that is serving the homes. We could definitely enhance the area to handle the volume of drainage it does,” Croce said.
To help fund the lift replacement project, the city is seeking grant opportunities from the South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources, according to City Administrator Stephanie Ellwein.
The funds could come in the form of a grant through the state’s Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program, in which the city is seeking roughly $1.5 million for the lift project, or a loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program.
According to City Engineer Joe Schroeder, a $1 surcharge rate will be charged to all city sewer accounts. Schroeder said the expected loan term for the CWSRF program is 1.375% for a period of 30 years, equating to the total loan amount just over expected to cost roughly $2.8 million.
Consent agenda
The following actions were taken as part of the consent agenda:
Approved the minutes of the June 15 and June 17 special meeting.
Approved the minutes of the June 8 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, May Parks and Recreation Board meeting, and June 16 Public Library Board meeting..
Approved department reports.
Approved the following council members to their respective liaison assignments: Steve Rice to the Chamber of Commerce Board; John Doescher to the Community Services Board; Susan Tjarks to the Convention and Visitors Bureau; Jeff Smith to the Corn Palace Events and Entertainment Board; Dan Sabers to the Golf Board; Kevin McCardle to the Housing and Redevelopment Commission; Steve Rice to the Library Board of Trustees; Jeff Smith to the Mitchell Area Development Corporation; Susan Tjarks to Mitchell Main Street and Beyond; Marty Barington to the Parks and Recreation Board; Dan Allen to the Planning and Zoning Board; Jeff Smith to the Sports and Events Authority.
Approved the appointment of Luke Norden to serve on the Parks and Recreation Board for a term through June 2023.
Set the date for the following alcohol license applications: Transfer RL-5771 Retail (On-Sale) Liquor License from Mitchell Area Development Corporation, 601 North Main Street, Mitchell to Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc., 601 North Main Street, Mitchell. This license will be active; Mitchell Chamber of Commerce for a new Retail (On-Off Sale) Wine License and Cider, located at 601 North Main Street, Mitchell, South Dakota; Mitchell Chamber of Commerce for a new Retail (On-Off Sale) Malt Beverage & SD Farm Wine, located at 601 North Main Street, Mitchell, South Dakota; Exchange Club of Mitchell for a Special Event Malt Beverage License from August 5th through August 16th for the State Amateur Baseball Tournament.
Approved to accept CARES Act grant for the Mitchell Municipal Airport in the amount of $69,000 with authorization of Mayor Bob Everson and City Attorney Justin Johnson.
Approved space closure request for July 24-25 in front of Bonnie’s DeKor on East Third Avenue.
Approved change order No. 5, East Central Drainage project No. 2018-39, to Menning Backhoe LLC.
Approved change order No. 1 for Department of Public Safety building re-roof project.
Set the date for the following bid opening: 1:30 p.m. on July 22 for Mitchell Activity Center roof repair project..
Approved July 6 and June 16 gas and fuel quotations, July 6 pay estimates, bills, payroll, salary adjustments and new employee hires and authorize payment of recurring and other expenses in advance as approved by the finance officer.
Other business
Recited the Pledge of Allegiance, receive invocation from Seventh Day Adventist Church and hear citizens' input.
Mayor Bob Everson issued oath of office for the following council members: Steve Rice, Dan Allen, Susan Tjarks, and John Doescher.
Elected Kevin McCardle as City Council President and Dan Allen as Vice President for the upcoming year.
Held hearings as Board of Adjustment.
Set the date for the following hearings: July 20: Michael Miller’s application for a backyard variance of 13 feet vs. 16 feet as required for replacing a detached garage that was destroyed by a fire located at 412 N. Burr St., legally described as lots 6A and 7A, block 31, Cooley and Guernsey Addition, in the city of Mitchell. The said real property is zoned R2 Single Family Residential District; July 20: Adam and Katie Koch’s application for a side yard variance of 3 feet vs. 8 feet as required for construction of a garage at 2212 Kelly Dr., legally described as Lot 1 Ex. West 150 feet, Country Living Estates, northeast quarter, Section 14, Township 103 North, Range 60 West, Davison County, South Dakota. The said real property is zoned UD Urban Development District; July 20: Logan and Chelsey Smith’s application for a conditional use permit to operate a family residential childcare center in their home at 1008 E. Seventh Ave., legally described as Lot 13, Block 13, Wilkinson's Addition, in the city of Mitchell.The property is zoned R4 High Density Residential District.
Approved Jeremy Gunkel’s Second and Lawler parking space closure request. Gunkel's request effectively closes the parking spaces in front of the Second and Lawler establishment on East Second Avenue, east of the south-side storm inlet and west of the curbside loading area.
Approved special event permit from the Corn Palace for the July 18 Tribute to Essential Workers event on Main Street.
Denied sidewalk waiver for new residential construction at northwest corner of Fiala Road and Jo Gene Court in 7-1 vote with Rice as the lone vote of approval.
Approved a bid for the Department of Public Safety building’s reroofing project, awarding Krogman Construction, LLC’s bid in the amount of $19,384.42.
Approved purchase of a $253,839 Elgin street sweeper from the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing alliance. The 2020 budget allocated $250,000 for a new street sweeper, but the city intends to surplus its old equipment for up to $17,000.
Approved three real property owners to appraise value of the Corn Palace dome and turrets, and turned down a high bid of $5,500 for the three items. The city said Monday that state law requires the property to be appraised before accepting sealed bids.
Approved the acceptance of a $3,098,400 grant the city of Mitchell was recently awarded by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Approved issuance and sale of revenue bonds to finance certain sewer facility improvements.
Approved Resolution No. R2020-41, a plat of lot 14, block 10 of the Woods First Addition, a subdivision of block 4 of Westwood First Addition in the northwest quarter of section 16, township 103 north, range 60 west of the fifth prime meridian, in the city of Mitchell.
Approved Resolution No. R2020-42, a plat of lots 5 and 7, block 4A of Westwood First Addition, a subdivision of block 4 of Westwood Addition in the northwest quarter of section 16, township 103 north, range 60 west of the fifth prime meridian, in the city of Mitchell.
